Called by former Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren, “a project of paramount importance for Israel and its supporters worldwide,” Toldot Yisrael is a Jerusalem based nonprofit dedicated to recording and sharing the firsthand testimonies of the men and women who helped found the State of Israel. Since 2007, Toldot Yisrael has been interviewing the members of Israel’s 1948 generation in order to capture and preserve the epic story of Israel's founding before it is too late. So far, we have interviewed more than 1,200 of Israel's founders and recorded over 4,000 hours of powerful and unique footage. Toldot Yisrael’s aim is to conduct hundreds more – while it is still possible.

Eyewitness 1948:The American Contribution

American Jews played a little known, yet key role in Israel’s founding. These short films share their inspiring stories.

Films produced with the support of the Ruderman Family Foundation. Interviews made possible through a grant from the William Davidson Foundation.

Hank Greenspun stayed one step ahead of the FBI as he acquired and shipped artillery and weapons that helped turn the tide in Israel's War of Independence.
As told by his son Brian Greenspun.

Hank Greenspun stayed one step ahead of the FBI as he acquired and shipped artillery and weapons that helped turn the tide in Israel's War of Independence.
As told by his son Brian Greenspun.

An article in Time Magazine convinced Harold Katz to drop out of Harvard Law School and volunteer for Aliyah Bet.

Herb Stern bought up army surplus ammunition and smuggled it across the country to ship to Israel in 1948.

“Shorty” Levin’s scrap metal company sold the ship to the Haganah that became the “Exodus”.
As told by his daughter Monica Levin.

Hebrew University student Joshua Stampfer was saved from being one of the 35 Haganah fighters killed bringing reinforcements to Gush Etzion in early 1948.

A call Dewey Stone made from a payphone at a B’nai B'rith dinner paved the way to Harry Truman recognizing the State of Israel.
As told by his niece Carol Applbaum.

Julius Stulman, owner of the Lumber Exchange Terminal along New York's East River, steps in to help arm Israel for the coming War of Independence.
As told by his son Stephen Stulman.

Zipporah Porath experienced culture shock upon her arrival at the Hebrew University as an exchange student from New York in 1947.

A humorous misunderstanding didn't prevent Sam Schulman from volunteering for a key role as a crew member on the historic voyage of the “Exodus.”

Ralph Goldman discusses how the money was raised by everyday American Jews to help fund Aliyah Bet and Israel's War of Independence.

A meeting in Detroit in 1949 led Ed Levy, Sr. to approach Ben Gurion with an offer to help construct housing for new immigrants to Israel.
As told by his son Ed Levy, Jr.

The bombing of the Palestine Post on February 1, 1948 didn’t stop Foreign News Editor Mordecai Chertoff and colleagues from publishing the newspaper the next day.

Sol Baskin, one of the most senior WWII veteran infantry officer to come fight in Israel in 1948, describes the difficult battle the religious company faced on Chanukah 1948.

Morris Ginsberg used his family’s company, American Foreign Steamship Corporation, to purchase and refit ships to be used for Aliyah Bet.
As told by his daughter Susan Snider.

Shalom Zvi (Harry) Davidowitz, a former Conservative Rabbi in Cleveland, was enlisted to help draft Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
As told by his grandson Danny Maseng.

Shoshana Levy was working in the Library of Congress in 1947 when she was asked by the Haganah to borrow some maps in preparation for the Partition Plan vote.

A mysterious meeting in a New York diner led Trygve Maseng to drop everything and become a pilot in Israel’s War of Independence.
As told by his son Danny Maseng

David Macarov used many unorthodox methods to acquire ships that brought Jewish refugees to Palestine in 1946-7.

Norman Lamm, a chemistry student at Yeshiva College, hoped to use his science background to help the State of Israel.

Toldot Yisrael Archive to be housed in Israel’s National library

Toldot Yisrael has recently reached an agreement securing a permanent home for Toldot Yisrael's archive in Israel's National Library. The partnership with the Library will allow us to catalogue the collection, develop platforms for making this material available to the public at large, and cooperate on joint educational ventures. More importantly, this will ensure preservation and access to this invaluable material in perpetuity. Click here to view full length interviews as part of the Toldot Yisrael collection on the National Library’s website.

Partners

Toldot Yisrael works in partnership with Israel’s Center for Defense Studies, the veterans associations of the Haganah, Palmach, Etzel, and Lehi, the Jabotinsky Institute, and the National Police Archive in identifying candidates for our interviews.

Interested in being interviewed?

Were you born in 1932 or earlier and have memories of the British Mandate? Did you fight in one of the pre-state underground movements in the 1930’s or 40s? Were you an eyewitness to history at the time of the founding of the State? Register here to be interviewed.